Star forward Zion Williamson made a significant return to the New Orleans Pelicans lineup on Sunday, scoring 18 points, including seven crucial points in the final four minutes, to help his team secure a 114-104 victory over the Chicago Bulls. Williamson, the NBA's top draft pick in 2019, most recently returned from a right hip adductor strain that sidelined him for five games. This season has been plagued by injuries for the two-time All-Star, limiting him to just 11 appearances for the last-place Pelicans, who improved their record to 5-22 with this win.

Williamson did not start the game but entered off the bench 4:35 into the first quarter, playing just under 27 minutes. He expressed no reservations about this uncustomary role, stating that interim coach James Borrego's strategy allowed him to "close the game" effectively, using his body according to minutes per quarter. He added that the "rhythm did feel pretty good," emphasizing his relief in securing the win. His impactful return was capped with a flashy dunk with 37 seconds left, definitively sealing the victory for New Orleans. Prior to this game, Williamson averaged 22.1 points and 5.6 rebounds in his 10 games played this season, notably scoring a season-high 29 points in a previous 143-130 win against the Bulls on November 24, which broke a nine-game losing streak for the Pelicans.

Coach Borrego commended Williamson's dedication, noting his hard work led to a quicker-than-expected recovery from the adductor strain. Williamson himself acknowledged the difficulty of injuries and rehabilitation but credited his intensive summer training for enabling faster and more efficient recovery times. He previously missed eight consecutive games earlier this season due to a strained hamstring and sat out a back-to-back game on November 30 against the Lakers as a precaution, though he was not on the injury report afterward. However, he was listed on December 2 before facing Minnesota, highlighting the persistent challenges he's faced.

The Chicago Bulls, meanwhile, faced their own struggles, playing without guard Ayo Dosunmu due to a sprained thumb. Despite guard Kevin Huerter returning from a left adductor strain to score 16 points off the bench, Chicago suffered their eighth loss in nine games. Seven Bulls players, including Coby White who led the team with 20 points, were under minutes restrictions. Both the Bulls and the Pelicans had snapped seven-game losing streaks with road wins on Friday night, making Sunday's contest a battle of teams looking to build momentum.